Ladder type ditcher



Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS 2,859,544

LADDER TYPE DITCHER Filed Jan. 18, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.CHARLES E. EVANS ATTQR'N EYS Q WA M Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS LADDERTYPE DITCHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 F INVENTOR. VCHARLESE. EVANS BY @m kw mwfl ATTORNEYS C. E. EVANS LADDER TYPE DITCHER Nov.11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. EVANS ATTOR EYS mm m R .m? h: am oh Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS2,859,544

LADDER TYPE DITCHER Filed Jan. 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.CHARLES E. EVANS ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS 2,859,544

LADDER TYPE-I DITCHER 4 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 5 Shets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.CHARLES E. EVANS ATTORNEYS United .States Patent LADDER TYPE DITCH'ERCharles E. Evans, Naperville Township, Du Page County, Ill., assignor toBarber-Greene Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication January 18, 1955, Serial No. 482,532

8 Claims. (Cl. 37--90) This invention relates to improvements inditchers and more particularly relates to an improved form of ditcher ofthe endless bucket line type for excavating ditches in earth and likematerial.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved formof ditcher having a simple and novel form of boom arrangement enablingthe boom to be more readily manipulated than formerly.

Another object of my invention is to provide an endless bucket line typeof ditcher having an improved form of boom arrangement pivoted to breakintermediate its ends to increase the maneuverability thereof, and soarranged as to maintain the head shaft for driving the bucket linestationary and in the same general relation with respect to the bucketline regardless of the position of the movable part of the boom.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a boom constructionparticularly adapted for a ladder type ditcher having a stationary framestructure having the head shaft and the guide chute carried thereon anda movable beam structure pivoted thereto and shiftable by power intoelevated traveling positions and lower digging positions, together witha simplified form of shifter strucutre selectively positionable toaccommodate manipulation of the beam for digging and elevation of thebeam for traveling from place to place.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel form of truckmounted ladder type ditcher having a boom pivoted to break intermediateits ends, with a hydraulic cylinder and piston for shifting the movableboom portion into an operative digging position from an upwardlyextending traveling position, together with a pivoted shifter frameforming a support for one end or the cylinder and piston and shiftableinto one position to accommodate the cylinder and piston to elevate themovable boom portion for traveling and into another position toaccommodate the cylinder and piston to depress the movable boom portionfor digging.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time asthe following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a persepective view of a laddertype truck mounted ditcher constructed in accordance with my inventionlooking toward one side thereof from the rear end thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the ditcher shown inFi ure 1 showing the boom in a digging position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the ditcher showingthe movable boom portion elevated, with the bucket line resting on theground and in a position to start a ditching operation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the ditcher showingthe ditcher boom in a fully elevated traveling position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary portion of the ditcher;

plan view of the rear end "ice Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed viewshowing the shifter frame carrying the elevating means for the ditcherinside elevation;

Figure 7 is an end view of the shifter frame shown in Figure 6 withcertain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in verticalsection; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the shifter frame shown in Figures 6 and 7. i

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings I haveshown a ladder type ditcher 10 mounted on the rear end portion of aframe 11 of a truck 12, herein shown as being a well known form ofautomotive truck mounted on the usual rubber tired frontsteering wheels13 and rear drive wheels 14. l

The portion of the truck frame 11 rearwardly vof the cab for the truckforms a platform for a boom 16 which comprises generally a stationaryhead frame structure 15 mounted on the rear portion of the truck frame11 and a vertically movable beam 17 pivoted to the rear end of said headframe structure. The beam 17 is pivoted on ears 19, projectingrearwardly from opposite sides of the head frame structure 15 andforming a support for pivot pins 20 extending through said ears and thefurcations of a bifurcated rear end portion 21 of the beam 17. i

The head frame structure 15 is shown as having a transverse head shaft22 journaled at opposite sides of said head frame structure at the upperend thereof and having a head sprocket 23 keyed or otherwise securedthereto and meshing with an endless chain digger or chain 24 of anendless bucket line 25, for driving the same about the boom 16. V

The beam 17 is shown as having a foot shaft 26 carried at its extremeforward end portion having an idler sprocket 27 carried thereon andmeshing with the endless chain 24 and forming a foot sprocket therefor.The shaft 26 is carried at its ends in parallel spaced slides 29,slidably guided in beam 17 between the flanges thereof and suitablyretained thereto. The slides 29 are movable along the beam 17 to take uptension on the chain 24 by a usual tension adjustment rod means commonlyused to take up tension on conveyor and like chains and indicatedgenerally by reference 30, and no part of my present invention so notherein shown or de scribed further. r

The endless bucket line 25 is herein shown as comprising the endlesschain 24 having a plurality of spaced 37, and may be reversely operableto discharge ma-l terial onto the ground to either side of the truck 10.

The extensible chute 37 is shown in Figure 2 as being inclined at theangle of the digging run of the bucket line 25 when in a diggingposition, to accommodate the cutters 35 and scrapers 36 to progress theexcavated earth upwardly therealong for discharge onto the conveyor 39,and has an inclined stationary rear end portion 40 and an extensiblelower end portion 41 telescopically mounted with respect to said rearend portion and having boots 43 extending forwardly from each sidethereof and serving to retain the excavated earth to the chute 37.

The lower chute portion 41 is extensibly or retractably moved withrespect to the upper chute portion 40;

tensible therefrom and connected between spaced cars 46 projecting fromthe bottom of the lower chute portion 41.

A shoe 47 is mounted at the rear end of the truck frame 11 and dependstherefrom to engage the inside of the lower .run of the bucket line whenthe beam 17 is in position to rest the bucket line on the ground andwhen the beam is in the elevated roading position shown in Figure 4. Aroller 48 is spaced forwardly along the truck frame 11 to cooperate withthe shoe 47 and take up on the chain when the bucket line is resting onthe ground and when the boom is in its elevated position.

The drive to the head shaft 22 and head sprocket 23 is through a gearbox 49 (Figure having suitable reduction gearing (not shown) thereinwhich may be driven from the transmission for driving the truck in anywell known manner and no part of my present invention, so not hereinshown or described further. The gear box 49 has a drive shaft 50extending outwardly therefrom .and having a sprocket 51 on-the outer endthereof meshing with and driving an endless chain 53. Thezendless'chain53 meshes with teeth 54 shown as being formed integrally with .a drum 55for a safety clutch 56 on the head shaft 22, for driving the same. Thesafety clutch 56 may be of any well known form of friction slip clutch,slipping upon predetermined loads and is no part of my presentinvention, so need not herein be shown .or described further.

The movable beam 17 is shown in Figure 2 as having 7 brackets 60extending from .opposite sides thereof intermediate theends thereof,toward the digging run of the bucket line 25.. The brackets 60 form asupport for an 7 idler roller .61' journaled therebetween on atransverse shaft 62, mountcdat its ends in said brackets. The idlerroller 61 serves torbackup the bucket line during the digging operationthereof, and to maintain a substantially straight bucket line from thefoot sprocket 27 to the head sprocket 23 when the bucket line is inits-extreme digging position.

A cylinder 63, having a piston (not shown) movable therein and a pistonrod 64 extensible therefrom, is provided to crowd the movable beam 17into its digging position and hold said movable beam in the diggingposition shown in Figure 2 and also to lift said movable beam fortransportation. As herein shown, the piston rod 64 is connected at itsfree end between a pair of spaced cars 65 projecting from "the oppositeside of the movable beam 17 from the brackets .60 and forming a supportfor a pivot pin 66, pivotally connecting the piston rod 64 to saidmovable beam. The head end of the cylinder 63 is shown as having an car67 projecting therefrom and connected to the center of an arcuate yoke.69 on an upright pivot pin 70. The arcuate yoke is shown as beingconnected at its free ends between parallel spaced inner and outer sideplates 71, 71 and 72, 72 of a shifter frame 73 on axially aligned pivotpins 74, 74. The shifter frame 73 is shown as being generally triangularin side elevation although it may be of various other forms, and asbeing mounted on the head frame structure 15 for movement about the axisof the transverse pins 20. As herein shown, the inner end portions ofthe side plates 71 and 72 of the shifter frame 73 are mounted on thepins 20 on opposite sides of the furcations 21 of the movable beam 17and form a selectively movable support for the cylinder :63, connectingsaid cylinder to the head frame 15 in selected positons of adjustment,to effect a wide range of pivotal movement of the movable beam 17 bytheoperation of a single cylinder and piston;

The upper rear end portions of the plates '71 and 72 are connectedtogether by aligned sleeves or pipes 75, 75 which also form a pivotalsupport for spaced take-up arms 76, 76 pivotally mounted thereoninwardly of the inner plates 72, 72 of the shifter frame 73 and spacedapart by a coupling member 77, mounted on the inner ends of the pipes75, 75 in position to abut the inner sides 4 of the arms 76 and couplingthe inner ends of the pipes 75, 75 together.

A locking pin 79 may be selectively extended through spaced lugs 80extending rearwardly of the head frame structure 15 above spaced lugs 19and through the pipes 75 and coupling member 77, to hold the shifterframe 73 in position to connect the cylinder 63 to the head framestructure 15, to crowd the bucket line into the earth at the beginningof the digging operation and maintain the bucket line in the fullydownwardly extended position shown in Figure 2. The pin 79 may also beinserted through spaced lugs 81 extending upwardly and rearwardly from abrace member 82- of the head frame structure 15 for holding the shifterframe 73 in position to connect the head end of the cylinder 63 to thehead frame structure 15 in position to elevate the movable beam 17 tothe extreme traveling position shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 8, I have shown spacer links 78, which may be provided betweenthe plates 71 and 72 in'cooperation with the pipes 75, to maintain theplates 71 and 72 in spaced relation with respect to each other and tostiffen the shifter frame structure.

A tension idler 83 is carried between the free ends of the take-up arms76 on a transverse shaft 84, which is mounted at its ends on said arms.The tension idler 83 is meshed with the endless chain 24, and is biasedto maintain tension on the endless chain 24 when in the digging positionshown in Fig. 2 and when being crowded into a digging position bydownward pivotal movement of the movable beam '17 by a compressionspring 85.

The compression spring 85 is seated on a flanged stud 86 at its upperend having a sleeve 87 formed integrally therewith and extendingtransversely thereof. The sleeve 87 is shown as being pivotally mountedbet-ween the take-up arms "76 on a pivot pin v89. Theopposite end of thecompression spring 85 is seated on a flanged stud 90, the stud of whichextends 'partially within said spring and has a sleeve 92 formedintegrally therewith, through which extends a pivot pin 93 mounted .atits ends in inwardly extending and-depending ear portions 94 of theinner plates 72 of the shifter frame '73. A pair of spaced links 95 arepivotally mounted on the outer ends of the pivot pin 89 on the outersides of the take-up arms 76 and extend downwardly along opposite sidesof the spring 85. 'The links 95 have slots 96 extending along theirlower end portions having slidablc engagement with the pivot'pin 93inwardly of depending-ear portions 94.

The spring 85 thus'biases the take-up arms "76 and idler sprocket 83 ina take up direction to maintain the required tension on the chain 24during the digging operation of the bucket line.

A chain 99, is suitably secured at one end to the frame structure 15 ofthe boom 16 to the left of the pin 20, as shown in Figure 4. Said chainhas a hook on its opposite end which may be hooked over the upper run ofthe bucket line 25 to prevent sagging of the lower run of the bucketline during transportation of the ditcher.

In operation of the ditcher, the truck may be moved to a location closeto the working place in the upwardly extending or roading position shownin Figure 4. The beam 17 may then be lowered by operation of thehydraulic cylinder 63 and piston rod 64 to allow the bucket line to reston the ground. The pin 79 may then be removed from the spaced lugs 81.In order to do this, the cylinder 63 may be manipulated by the admissionof hydraulic fluid under pressure thereto to ease the load on the pin79. The chain 99 may then be unhooked from the bucket line, and hookedbetween the arms 76 out of the way.

When the pin 79 has been removed from the lugs or cars 81, hydraulicfluid under pressure maybe admitted to the piston rod end of-thecylinder 63 to pivot the shifter trainees in a clockwise direction tothe position shown in Figure 3. The rod or-pin 79 may thenbe insertedthrough the lugs 80 and the pipes 75 of the shifter frame 73 to lock theshifter frame in the position shown The beam 17 may then be graduallylowered and as it v is lowered to the position wherethe endless chain 24is relatively taut as shown ,in Figure 3, the bucket line 25 may bestarted in operation. Fluid under pressure may then be admitted to thehead end of the cylinder 63 to gradually crowd the beam 17 and bucketline 25 into the ground, pivoting said boom in a clockwise direction. Atthe same time the extensible lower chute 41 on the upper chute portion40 and the boot 43- may be lowered into position close to the ground byoperation of the hydraulic cylinder 44 and piston rod 45.

Lowering movement of the beam 17 may becontinued until said beam reachesthe position shown in Figure 2, at which position the digging and loadcarrying run of the bucket line 25 is in a substantially'straight linebetween the foot sprocket 27 and head'sprocket 23. The truck 12 may thenbe put into operation to progress the digger along the ground andcontinue the digging operation as desired.

When it is again desired to travel, fluid under pressure may be admittedto the piston rod end of the cylinder 63 elevating the beam 17 to theposition shown in Figure l. The truck 12 may then be operated to movethe digger away from the ditch to a relatively flat spot on the groundat which time the beam 17 may be lowered by the admission of fluid underpressure to-the head end of the cylinder 63. The pin 79 may then beremoved from the ears 80.

Fluid under pressure may again be admitted to the head end of thecylinder 63, pivoting the shifter frame 73 in a counterclockwisedirection into position to register the pipes 75 with the holes throughthe ears81.

The pin 79 may then be placed through the holes in said the elevatedposition shown in Figure 4 by the admission of fluid under pressure tothe piston rod end of the cyl inder 63. The chain 99 may then be hookedover the bucket line to prevent sagging of the lower end thereof. It maybeseen from the foregoing that I have provided a truck mounted, laddertype ditcher of a more compact arrangement than former ditchers bybreaking the boom in the center and pivoting the free end portionthereof, to accommodate the boom to be positioned in the downwardlyextended digging position shown in Figure 2, and in the extremeupwardlyextending roading position shown in Figure 4.

It may further be seen that the compactness and the maneuverability ofthe beam 17 is attained in anextremely simple manner and the beam ismoved to its various positions by a single stroke double acting cyl:inder and piston through the use of a shifter frame connecting thecylinder and piston to the stationary boom structure and shiftable bythe cylinder and piston into position to hold the cylinder and, pistonto crowd the bucket line into the earth for digging and maintain'thebucket line in a digging position and elevate the bucket line from itsdigging position, and is also shiftable into a second position toaccommodate the same cylinder and piston to pivot the beam 17 in theextreme upwardly extended roading position shown in Figure 4.

It will be understood that various modifications and variations of thepresent invention may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the never concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a self propelled ladder type ditcher, a truck having a frame, aboom supported on said frameand comprising a stationary head framestructure on said truck frame and beam pivoted to the rear end ofstationary head frame structure for movement about a transverse axis, ahead shaft on said stationary head frame structure having a drivesprocket thereon, a foot shaft on the free end of said beam having anidler sprocket thereon, an endless bucket line trained about said idlersprocket and driven from said drive sprocket and moving about said boomfor the length thereof, cylinder and piston means connected between saidbeam and said head 7 frame structure for crowding said beam for diggingand lifting said beam into an elevated position, and a means connectingsaid cylinder and piston means with said stationary head frame structurecomprising a shifter frame pivoted to said stationary head structure formovement about the axis of pivotal movement of said beam and having saidcylinder and piston means connected thereto at a point spaced outwardlyfrom the pivotal axis of said beam, said cylinder and piston means beingoptransverse axis, a head shaft on said stationary head frame structurehaving a drive sprocket thereon, a foot shaft on the free end of saidbeam having an idler sprocket thereon, an endless bucket line trainedabout said idler sprocket and driven fromsaid drive sprocket and movingabout said boom for the length thereof, cylinder and piston meansconnected between said beam and said head frame structure for crowdingsaid beam for digging and lifting vtionary head frame structurecomprising a shifter frame pivoted to said stationary head structure formovement about the axis of pivotal movement of said beam and having saidcylinder and piston means connected thereto at a point spaced outwardlyfrom the pivotal axis of said beam, said cylinder and piston means beingoperative to move said shifter frame into a plurality of selectedoperating positions, and locking means for selectively locking saidshifter frame in its selective operative positions, a take-up armpivoted on said shifter frame and having an idler sprocket on the endthereof meshing with said bucket line, and spring means interposedbetween said shifter frame and take-up arm for biasing said take-upframe and including astationary head frame structure and a pivoted beampivoted to and projecting from said head frame structure and forming acontinuation thereof,

a head shaft on said stationary head frame structure, a foot shaft atthe free end of said beam, a drive sprocket on said head shaft,an idlersprocket on said foot shaft,

an endless bucket line trained about said sprockets and; driven fromsaid drive sprocket, cylinder and piston means having connection withsaid pivoted beam adjacent said foot shaft for vertically moving saidbeam about the pivotal axis thereof, and selectively positional mountingmeans for said cylinder and piston means, mounting said cylinder andpiston means on said stationary head frame and angularly adjustable intoposition to maintain said cylinder and piston means in effectiveposition to rowd. aid b m et r igging ns gula ly,

positionable into position to support said cylinder; and piston means inan elevated position, to pivot saidibeam into an elevated positionfonroadingt; I

4. In an endlessbucket type, of ditcheriof the class described, a baseframe, a boom-mounted on said base frame andincluding a statiQnary headframe anda beam pivoted to and proiecting from;said, head frame andforming; a continuation thereof, a headtshaftion said head; frame, afoot shaft at the free endhofasaid-beam, a drive sprocket on said headshaft, an idler sprocket on saidfoot shaft, and endless bucket linetrained about said shafts and driven from said drive sprocket, cylinderand piston meanshaving connection-with saidbeam for rele-i vating andlowering} said. beam about its axis of connection to said head frame,selectively. positionable support means for said cylinder. and pistonmeans;adjustably mounted-on said head frame comprising a shifter framemovably mounted onsaidhead. frame and havingsaid cylinder. and ,piston,means pivotally connected thereto,

means for selectively locking ,said shifter. frame in a plurality ofselected operative, positions, saidshifter framehavinga take-up armpivoted thereto having an idler sprocket thereonengaging said bucketline, and

means onflsaid shifter, frame for. biasing said take-up arm and sprocketto take up slack on said bucket line.

5. A boom structure particularly adapted-foran endless bucket laddertype ditcher comprising a base frame, a head frame mountedon said'baseframe, a beam transversely pivoted .to said head. frame and forming acontinuation thereof, and extending beyond said base frame,

a shifter frame transverselypivoted-on said head frame andselectivelypositionable into aplurality of selected typeendlessbucketditchers comprisinga base frame, a.

head framemounted onsaid, base frame, a beam trans,-

versely pivoted to saidheadframeand extendingbeyond the end thereof, ahead shaft and sprocket on said head frame, a footshaft and, sprocket onthe-free end of said beam, and endless bucket a line trained about saidsprockets and driven fromsaid head shaft, a shifter frame pivoted onsaidheadframeformovement about an axis,

coaxial with the, pivotahaxis of said beam and shiftable intoapluralityof stationary operative positions, cylinder, and piston mea s,'conneeted,betweensaid shifter frame and saidbea liformoving saidshifter frame intoaplurality ofjoppratiye positions, and, for.vertically moving said beammp'pn theulocking of. said: shifter framein-a;

selective operative position, .means. selectively operable to lock saidshifterflfr-arne in one: operative position to position said cylinder:and pistonmeans to crowd said movable bucketline in a,diggingdirectionand, in a second operative position to position said.vcylinder and ,piston means to elevate saidv beam rintoanflelevatedroading p it ona 7. Inaself propelled ladder .type ditcher, atruckhaving a frame, a boom supported on saidframe and extend ing beyondthe rear end, thereof, and comprising a stationary. head frame structure.mQunted, on, said frame adjacent the rear end thereof and abeamtransversely 83-. pivoted, to; said head, framestructure at the.rearend: 9 5% head Shaft;QmSaidKhead-frame structure having; a=.-dri,v'esppocketthereorr; asfootishaft. on-1 thefreeend of, said-.beamnhaving,an, idler; sprocket thereon, an endless-- bucket line trained about saidsprockets and driven from saiddrivesprocket; cylinder and piston meansconnected betwefil wsaidahead framerstructure andqsaid beam forpivoting; said 'be am into'its several operative positions,meansmonnectingpaid; eylinderand piston means totsaid, head framestructure to effect lowering movement of-,said beam into a.igenenallyupright ditchdigging position and to effect upward, moyement of saidbeam into an upwardlyextending; roadinggposition, comprising a shifterframe, shiftablesint a, plurality of selective operative positions-= andhaving,;said;cylindenand=pistontmeans, pivotally connected theretm;meanswseleetively operable to lock said, shifter frametosaidheadframestructure toconneetsaid, cylinder and -pis ton, means -;toisaid head, frame, structurev in position, to hold said bearn;in--sai dfirst mentioned selec:

" tive;generally;up1 ight diggingrposition; and to elevatesaid.

, upwardlyextendingroading positions 8; A;bo om structurenparticularlyadapted for :ladder: type endless, bucket ditchersa comprising a baseframe,-:, a; head frame mounted on said base frame, a beampivoted'. tosaid head; frame fon {vertical movement about attransverse axis;and;extending beyond the-end-thereof,,avheadt;. shaftB-Ud,SP,I',OCkt;:OI1;S3-id head;.frame,a foot shaft and; sprockenonthe,free .end'of-said beam, an endlessbucketlinetrainedaboutqsaid sprocketsand driven from:- said. sprocket'on saidwvhead shaft, a shifter framepivoted on, said head-frameformovement;about an axis coaxial with the,axis ofpivotal movement of said beam,,cylinder and piston meansconnected between, said shifter frame and. said;beam, said3cylinden andpiston means being operable tomove' said shifter frame intoaupl'uralityof selected. operative positions and to pivot said beam upon IhflilOCk-zingof saidshifter frame inone ofiits selectedoperativet positions, saidshifter frame being selectively positionable in; one, of saidplurality,;of;,selected; operative positions to.- position; said;cylinder and piston means to OPBIBIQzSfildi' beam ina ,diggingdireotion and being selectively posittionable ma-second ofsaid pluralityof. selected operative positions topositionsaidpylinderand piston meanstolift; id e m intozan elevated reading position, meanstl'ockra 2raidishifterzframetin its severalselected operativezpor; sitionsmakesuparms .pivotally mounted on said Shifter frame'iand'sheving a take-upidler ithereonengaging said bucket line, and spring :means; on'saidshifter frame bias-1 ing said take-41p; arms-in aitakei-upi direction.

References Citedinthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 412,008I GreatvBritain Iune 21, 1934

